Full-size pickups · 7 model years, 2016 to 2026
Chevrolet Silverado 1500 vs Toyota Tundra: problems and reliability
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tundra looks better on 5 and the Silverado 1500 on 2.
Newest report Sep 24, 2026 · checked Sep 27, 2026
Scorecard
| Measure, 2016 to 2026 | Silverado 1500 | Tundra |
|---|---|---|
| Complaints that report a crash | 2.8% | 1.6% |
| Complaints that report a fire | 1.1% | 0.7% |
| Complaints that report an injury | 1.3% | 1.1% |
| Median miles when problems are reported | 39,000 | 20,000 |
| Recall campaigns per model year | 3.9 | 5.1 |
| Do-not-drive recalls | 2 | 0 |
| NHTSA investigations | 5 | 1 |
The shaded side is lower (for miles, higher). Values within about a tenth of each other count as too close to call.
What owners complain about
The system Silverado 1500 owners complain about most is engine, and it is the same for the Tundra. Complaints citing electrical make up 18% of all Silverado 1500 complaints, against 11% on the Tundra. The Tundra leans the other way on fuel and propulsion: 15% of its complaints, against 5.2% for the Silverado 1500.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500Toyota Tundra
Share of each model's complaints that cite each system, from NHTSA's own component codes. One complaint can cite several systems, so the shares add up to more than 100%.
The most reported problems
The most reported problem on the Silverado 1500 is brake wear (16% of its complaints). On the Tundra it is stalling (15% of its complaints), against 16% on the Silverado 1500.
| Problem | Silverado 1500 | Tundra |
|---|---|---|
| Engine stalls or loses power while driving | 16% 463most in 2022 · 26k mi | 15% 239most in 2023 · 34k mi |
| Brakes grind, pulse or wear early | 16% 468most in 2016 · 50k mi | 9.7% 151most in 2016 · 10k mi |
| Engine failure, knocking or rod bearing | 13% 377most in 2022 · 26k mi | 10% 162most in 2023 · 35k mi |
| Transmission shudders, slips or shifts hard | 9.4% 268most in 2016 · 58k mi | 8.6% 134most in 2022 · 10k mi |
| Infotainment, screen or backup camera fails | 7.6% 216most in 2022 · 33k mi | 5.0% 7719k mi |
| Check engine light or misfire | 8.1% 231most in 2022 · 30k mi | 3.1% 4835k mi |
| Wheel bearing, tires or wheels | 1.6% 45most in 2016 · 24k mi | 2.9% 4520k mi |
| Suspension noise, struts or alignment | 2.4% 68most in 2018 · 24k mi | 1.2% 19 |
Share of each model's own complaints, with the count beside it. "Most in" links to the symptom sheet for the model year with the most reports of it, and the mileage is the median from reports that gave one.
When problems start
Tundra owners report problems earlier. Half the Tundra complaints that give a mileage come before 20,000 miles; for the Silverado 1500 the halfway point is 39,000. 62% of Silverado 1500 reports and 84% of Tundra reports come before 50,000 miles. Older model years have had longer to reach high mileage, so a window that runs to recent years pulls both medians down.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500Toyota Tundra
Share of the complaints that state a mileage: 1,281 for the Silverado 1500 and 422 for the Tundra.
Worst and best years
No Silverado 1500 model year stands out from the rest. The 2024 Tundra draws 12.4 times the complaints of a typical Tundra year for its age.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
- Years to avoid: none stands out
- Best years: 2018
Chevrolet Silverado 1500Toyota Tundra
Each bar is that model year's complaints for each year on the road, divided by the same figure for a typical year of the same model (the dashed line). Measuring each model against itself takes the sales gap between the two out of the picture, so they can share a scale. Years too new to judge are left out.
Recalls and investigations
The Tundra draws more recalls: 5.1 campaigns per model year against 3.9 for the Silverado 1500. A recall counts once however many cars it covers, so this figure does not grow with sales the way complaint totals do.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500
27 recall campaigns and 5 NHTSA investigations across these model years. Most recalled: airbags (9), service brakes, hydraulic (6) and transmission and drivetrain (3).
- Do not drive 16V-256 (suspension), model years 2016
- Do not drive 26V-289 (transmission and drivetrain), model years 2026
- 25V-274 (engine and engine cooling) covers 3 model years
- 19V-645 (service brakes, hydraulic) covers 2 model years
Investigations
- EA26005: Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy (open)
- RQ26001: Loss of motive power due to engine failure post recall remedy (closed)
- EA25007: Loss of motive power due to engine failure (open)
Toyota Tundra
36 recall campaigns and 1 NHTSA investigation across these model years. Most recalled: equipment (10), electrical (4) and exterior lighting (3).
- 25V-322 (exterior lighting) covers 4 model years
- 25V-657 (backup camera) covers 4 model years
Investigations
- EA19001: Electrical overstress (closed, led to a recall)
Whether a particular car is included depends on its VIN. Check yours at nhtsa.gov/recalls.
Crashes, fires and injuries
A larger share of Silverado 1500 complaints report a crash: 2.8%, against 1.6% for the Tundra. Fire reports: 31 for the Silverado 1500 and 11 for the Tundra. Complaints on file report 2 deaths in the Silverado 1500 and 0 in the Tundra for these model years.
Chevrolet Silverado 1500Toyota Tundra
Share of each model's complaints in which the owner reported it. These are owners' own accounts as filed with NHTSA, and one report on its own doesn't prove a defect.
Questions
Is the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 or the Toyota Tundra more reliable?
On the 7 measures below that do not grow with sales, the Tundra looks better on 5 and the Silverado 1500 on 2. NHTSA complaint totals cannot settle it alone: the Silverado 1500 has 2,842 complaints and the Tundra 1,550 for the 7 model years from 2016 to 2026 that both have on file, and those totals follow how many of each were sold.
Which has more recalls, the Silverado 1500 or the Tundra?
The Silverado 1500 has 27 recall campaigns and the Tundra 36 across the 7 model years from 2016 to 2026 that both have on file. The Tundra draws more recalls: 5.1 campaigns per model year against 3.9 for the Silverado 1500.
What are the most common problems on the Silverado 1500 and the Tundra?
The most reported problem on the Silverado 1500 is brake wear (16% of its complaints). On the Tundra it is stalling (15% of its complaints), against 16% on the Silverado 1500.
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